Chapter 57

ALPHA JAMES POV

I was surprised when I received a message from Akayla asking me to meet her at the edge of the woods. I hadn't seen or heard from her since the night she told me about Rosella’s pregnancy, and I wondered what she could want from me now.

Despite my reservations, I found myself making my way towards the meeting spot, my heart racing with anticipation and anxiety. These few days have made my choices clearer and I know I’ve been playing myself.

I don’t want the throne again, I know the chances of Rosella leaving Julian for me are low. Not even low, it’s non-existent. I always treated her badly and Julian showed her the exact opposite. He treated her better than I ever did and for that, she deserves peace. She deserves for me to let go of her and stop causing her pain.

As I approached the clearing, I saw Akayla waiting for me, a small smile on her wrinkled face. Akayla never smiled, at least not with me. Something about the way she was looking at me made me feel uneasy.